Blog
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How do we manage the risks associated with burning wood on the course for both staff and members?
The Course Manager has completed a risk assessment. Risks are managed and governed by exposure times. The time staff spend managing the fire is set by the Course Manager. Generally fires will only be lit during cold spells of weather when the course is quiet.
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Why don’t we recycle any trees we fell or branches etc we lop off?
Where we can we leave the wood to decay naturally, but where we can’t we try to stockpile wood and this is available to members should they wish to take it. Contact the Course manager if you are interested.
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Why do greenkeepers burn the waste from woodland management on the course?
Waste wood is burnt in 2 areas; close to the sixth tee and on the far side of the driving range. Where we can we leave the wood and leaves in situ to decay naturally. Where we can’t do this we either chip, remove and stockpile or burn depending on conditions.
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Will all our greens always be in the speed range of 9.0-10.5 in Summer?
No, this is just a ‘TARGET’ range that we try to achieve. If we were to measure the speed of each green after cutting or rolling and attempt corrections we would need double the budget. Our staff understand the differences between our greens but are constrained by the available resources. We are first and foremost…
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What is ‘Drill and Fill’? and why do we do it?
‘Drill and Fill’ is a process similar to core aeration where soil and thatch are removed from the green to help relieve subsoil compaction and improve drainage and air exchange. With ‘Drill and Fill’ large diameter holes are drilled into the surface of the green to a depth of up to 10 inches deep. When…
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How often do the pin positions get changed on the greens?
The pin positions are regularly changed on a Tuesday and on a Friday throughout the year. They are also changed for some competitions during the week and over the weekends. Generally, the pins are moved twice a week during the winter and up to a maximum of four times in the summer if there is…
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What are the brown patches that have appeared on some of the tees?
The brown patches are caused by a fungal disease known commonly as Dollar Spot. This disease can also be seen on some of the fairways. This disease has increased on the course over the last few years due to the combination of wet summers and mild winters without any prolonged periods of frost. The disease…
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Are there any trees on the course with a tree preservation order (TPO) on them?
No, there are not.There is sometimes a need to fell or prune trees which are rooted on the Tichborne Estate land and are impacting parts of the course, including tees or greens. In this instance we always consult with the Estate about the work that is required and have not had a refusal to perform…
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Do trees get damaged when they are hit by golf balls/clubs?
Young trees and saplings will damage easily if struck by a ball as the bark is much thinner. If you look at the bark you will often see it is broken/damaged on the side facing the direction of play and this will still show on older mature trees. The side facing the green by comparison…
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What criteria do the Greens committee use when deciding which trees to remove or prune?
There are many reasons why a tree may need to be removed or pruned, and in every case it is done for the long term benefit of the course. The grass on tees, fairways and greens requires light, air, water and nutrients to survive and trees will compete for these resources usually to the detriment…
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Why are so many trees being cut down, trimmed or thinned out every year?
In the past there has been a policy of planting large numbers of saplings with a view to thinning them out once the best specimens had become established (See FAQ in this section about trees cut down in the past.) However, this has not always been prioritised as part of the maintenance programme. As part…
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Is it true that Alresford Golf Club have cut down many trees in the past in order to create the tees/greens and fairways?
Over the last 30 years or so, the course has undergone a number of significant changes and redesigns. Firstly, when land was taken to build the bypass, and again when the course was increased from 9 holes to 12 and then again to 18. During these changes a large number of trees were removed, particularly…
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Are the practice putting greens the same speed as the greens on the course?
The practice putting green to the side of the 18th green, by the clubhouse, and the putting green on the right hand side when approaching the first tee are, on average, the same speed as the greens on the course. The practice green on the left side when approaching the first tee (where the old…
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Should divots be replaced on tees?
No. Where possible the divot should be filled with the sand and seed mix in the green boxes at the side of the tee. If there is no sand and seed mix in the box or if there is no box then the divot should be discarded. Because of the high footfall that occurs on…
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Why do we not have sand boxes on all the tees so people can repair divots?
The sand boxes are surprisingly expensive (due to them only being made by a small number of companies). In order to keep costs down the sand boxes are only placed on tees which get the most divots. e.g. par 3s and shorter par 4s where irons are used to tee off. This policy also means…
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Why don’t we rest the white/medal tees during the winter?
The generally small areas of our tees means that the areas of the tee left open during winter would receive excessive wear. It is, therefore, better to keep the whole tee area open and move tees around to get consistent wear. The 11th tee is an exception, where a specific winter tee has been created…
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Why do the greenkeepers still use their vehicles even when there is a trolley/buggy ban in place?
Even if there is a buggy/trolley ban the greens staff need to continue with their work around the course and this will necessitate the use of their buggies and other wheeled machinery. It should be noted that golfers will tend to walk/drive similar paths along the fairways and around greens, thus creating additional wear and…
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What criteria are used for determining when to place and remove a trolley/buggy ban and who makes the decision?
There are numerous factors to consider when deciding whether to place or remove buggy/trolley bans during winter. The decision is, therefore, made by the Course Manager who is best qualified to assess all the factors. We employ professional staff at AGC to make the appropriate decisions in these circumstances and we trust their judgement.
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Why do we have trolley/buggy bans during the winter?
Buggies are most likely to be banned when the course is very wet. This is largely for health and safety reasons, but also to protect the areas where buggies are likely to cause excessive wear and rutting. Trolleys and single seat buggies (and therefore larger 2 seat buggies) are most likely to be banned during…
